I've written before that I've a weird form of Insomnia. I sometimes hardly get more than 3 hrs of sleep for a day for weeks and then need to crash for about a week to sleep for all that I've missed. Not fun! and this has been happening for like the last year I think.
Doctors will not give me any pills for this as I've Asthma and they cannot risk it as sleeping pills reduce the heart rate...is what I'm told.
Then various people have told me to meditate, read boring text books before going to sleep, masturbate, drink milk, exercise and all sorts of things and nothing has worked..
My mum wouldn't allow me to read books or watch movies in the middle of the night, she tells me to pray and sleep. No matter how much I've tried that, it doesn't work either.
So I listen to music, used to talk to friends... well it used to be my cousin, then a good batch mate who has now flown to the world down under and my other friend D-girl who is now living with her in-laws and having a hard time surviving there etc....
Sometimes, it really gets to me. It gets to me coz I end up thinking of things I need to push away from my mind... or if I'm really tired and desperately want to sleep and I can't, it gets even worse. Tossing and turning every few mins, with nothing but the sound of the fan filling up my ears isn't really pleasant... when all I'm hoping for is sleep...
A week ago, I just couldn't take it, and so went to the Health guard pharmacy near my office and had a chat with the pharmacist who happens to be pally with me. I asked her if there were any sleeping pills coz cough syrups and Piriton doesn't work at all no matter what the dose is.
She just looked at me, wide eyed, and said there are a few options.
I then asked her if she's allowed to actually give me sleeping pills without a prescription!
She smiled and said that she could, but that there are side effects.
So out of curiosity, I asked her what they were. They ranged from nausea, to feeling dizzy, to feeling drowsy and having a headache the next day etc.....
I said 'No thanks, it's ok' and walked out.
Doctors will not give me any pills for this as I've Asthma and they cannot risk it as sleeping pills reduce the heart rate...is what I'm told.
Then various people have told me to meditate, read boring text books before going to sleep, masturbate, drink milk, exercise and all sorts of things and nothing has worked..
My mum wouldn't allow me to read books or watch movies in the middle of the night, she tells me to pray and sleep. No matter how much I've tried that, it doesn't work either.
So I listen to music, used to talk to friends... well it used to be my cousin, then a good batch mate who has now flown to the world down under and my other friend D-girl who is now living with her in-laws and having a hard time surviving there etc....
Sometimes, it really gets to me. It gets to me coz I end up thinking of things I need to push away from my mind... or if I'm really tired and desperately want to sleep and I can't, it gets even worse. Tossing and turning every few mins, with nothing but the sound of the fan filling up my ears isn't really pleasant... when all I'm hoping for is sleep...
A week ago, I just couldn't take it, and so went to the Health guard pharmacy near my office and had a chat with the pharmacist who happens to be pally with me. I asked her if there were any sleeping pills coz cough syrups and Piriton doesn't work at all no matter what the dose is.
She just looked at me, wide eyed, and said there are a few options.
I then asked her if she's allowed to actually give me sleeping pills without a prescription!
She smiled and said that she could, but that there are side effects.
So out of curiosity, I asked her what they were. They ranged from nausea, to feeling dizzy, to feeling drowsy and having a headache the next day etc.....
I said 'No thanks, it's ok' and walked out.
I battled with Insomnia for almost a year and got it cured but it came back due to some irregularities.
ReplyDeleteMy advice would be to go to sleep early at the same time every day.
Before going to sleep, do something vigorous such as working out.
Do not fall asleep in the afternoons during the weekend or hols.
Have at least 2 hours of slack time between a meal & sleep.
Whenever you feel like sleeping (at odd hours) get yourself physically activated.
Ultimate target is to sleep for 8hours nothing more or less.
Meditating & reading will help too but most of the time tiring out your physique helps.
As for sleeping pills I would recommend against it coz sometimes you won't be able to fall asleep without them. I had that dire experience
I'm glad you didn't take the pills... and the doctors are quite right. Another side effect is "paradoxical excitation" meaning that the pills will make you even more restless, and the effect remains in your system even after stopping them!
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can ask your doctor about what sort of sleep hygiene is best for you. I can recommend bananas and malted milk (NOT tea or coffee) prior to sleep as they have tryptophan and other happy sleep inducing chemicals.
Also, what's your total caffeine intake for a day (tea, coffee, chocolate?)
WTB - thanks!! I've tried about 2 of those... but will try again and see..:-) I'm glad you were out of it.. Hope it works again for you...
ReplyDeleteAngel - Hmm.. Thank you!!! I will try that. I tend to drink black coffee on most mornings at work.. hardly drink tea.. and chocolates - on and off. Not so much. except the last couple of weeks I did have a lot..:)
Interesting post. I'm sure exercise will work, if its intense enough. Ever tried a zumba class or an aerobics class?
ReplyDeleteLol, only skimmed the post the first time, re-read it and saw the advice included masturbation... :)
ReplyDeleteGood one, that.
JP - I used to exercise alot.. and still do when I get time. I'm hoping to get myself a gym membership again in about a week and workout a little more regularly like I used to... I do go for zumba. Doesn't help with sleep though..:(
ReplyDelete:) perhaps masturbation works only for some..;)
i think you need to fall in love...trust me its the cure to everything !
ReplyDeleteoh pls... never ever... no way!
ReplyDeleteH again, ya know..your apprehensions are justified. I mean at first love helps you sleep good..then you're most likely gonna be back to square one...loosing sleep because of worrying over a man...so not worth it. You have an amazing thing going...let fate guide your destiny and trust that whatever will be will be... Hugs
ReplyDeletethanks anon... do I know you by any chance? coz you sound like you know me ...
ReplyDeletehugs back.
btw, the sleep problem isn't coz of a man..:) maybe it's getting worse.. but not the root cause..:)
ReplyDeleteI've followed your blog on and of over the past maybe 3 or 4 years so I do know your love for your dad and mom, also about a stinkin ex who hurt you...I feel I relate to a lot you've been thru and sometimes wish I had dealt with life differently...focused on my career like you and not let anyone or anything influence what I want for my self... Your story is captivating..its like we're on this journey with you..I don't follow many blogs...because most of them seem fake but you seem so genuine and you write very sweetly.....
ReplyDeletethank you... So you travel with me, in the virtual context, in my journey in life..:)
ReplyDeleteThat's nice.:)
and thanks...:)